Joanna Marie O. Santos
August 1, 2023

In vitro fertilization, more commonly referred to as IVF, is a series of procedures done to assist with a person’s fertility, conceive a child, or even prevent genetic issues that the fetus might inherit. At its very core, IVF is a  complicated process as it is meant to directly help a person’s body in conceiving. This process is usually reserved for those who are in special circumstances like those with infertility, those who are trying to conceive without a direct sexual partner, or those who are surrogate mothers. 

IVF is a procedure that involves planting fertilized eggs or embryos in a person’s uterus. During this procedure, mature eggs are retrieved from ovaries and then fertilized by sperm in the laboratory with human assistance. While this process is usually reserved for those who cannot conceive naturally, recent reports suggest that this process can actually induce natural birth after a successful IVF pregnancy.

Can IVF Help People Conceive Naturally?

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While IVF is a procedure meant for people who are infertile or unable to conceive due to other factors, recent research published by the University College London (UCL) reveals that about one in five people who have undergone an IVF treatment could conceive naturally afterward. The premise of the result of the study is that the process of IVF can not only treat people and assist them in conceiving, but it can also help some people who undergo this treatment in conceiving naturally after the procedure has successfully produced a first child. 

According to the UCL study, this result is not only limited to IVF patients, as well. About 20% of women who have undergone any form of fertility treatment to conceive a child were highly likely to conceive naturally afterward. The study also involved 22 women from the UK who were all able to conceive naturally after undergoing IVF treatment, which resulted in a successful pregnancy. However, it is important to note that most of the women involved in the study are not actually diagnosed with infertility, but are categorized as ‘subfertile’, so the length of time it takes for them to conceive is longer than the average person. 

While many people deem this result as more desirable, scientists at UCL speculate in the study that it is biologically possible that IVF cycle-induced ovarian stimulation can also improve the fertility of the people trying to conceive by improving the natural functioning of their reproductive system, especially the ovary. This means that people who undergo IVF treatment once and are not aware of the changes in their ability to reproduce might begin to conceive outside of their family planning. 

IVF Treatment For Natural Pregnancy

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About one in five people who have undergone IVF treatments and conceived a first child could naturally conceive afterward. With this finding, scientists at UCL believe that unassisted conception is possible even outside fertility treatments like IVF, once the person’s ovarian functions are encouraged. However, this does not necessarily mean that IVF treatment will effectively help people conceive naturally in the future, as external influences can also affect the capability of the person in conceiving.

IVF treatment is not for everyone. The treatment is acknowledged to be expensive, invasive, and can be stressful for everybody involved, especially for the person trying to conceive. Make sure to check with your doctor before considering an IVF treatment to know if there are other available treatments for you.